Radiator temperature control system



Oct. 6, 1953 E. J. SANDERS 2,654,354

RADIATOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL. SYSTEM Filed March 23, 1951 INVENTOR. 52/1 1025 (I Jlwvoaes,

Patented Dot. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RADIATOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM 11 Claims. 1

circulating temperature control system adapted 1 not only to create the usual draft of cooling air through an engine radiator or the like when required, but also to create a warm air circulation through or about the radiator or other equipment during non-cooling periods. More specifically, the apparatus shown in that application includes a specially constructed rotor or fan having an adjustable shutter portion rotatable with the fan by which the fan is convertible between an axial flow cooling condition and a non-cooling condition, in which the rotor acts as a centrifugal impeller discharging warm air radially outwardly. Bafile or shroud means disposed about the fan direct the radially discharged warm air axially toward the radiator and/or the main engine compartment to circulate and warm both.

A second application, Number 217,251, March 23, 1951, on Fluid Circulating Apparatus, discloses a fluid circulating system similar to the above, but in which the circulation is effected, not by a specially constructed rotor, but by a conventional axial flow fan used in combination with a proximately positioned stationary or non-rotating shutter, the fan being convertible to a centrifugal impeller by closing of the shutter. In the device shown in this second application, the fan and shutter are positioned between the engine and radiator, and baffle means disposed about the fan divide the radially discharged warm air into two axial streams, one stream being deflected forwardly toward the radiator and the other rearwardly to circulate and warm the engine compartment.

The present application is directed to the provision of a second form of stationary shutter circulation system in which the fan and adjacent shutter, instead of being located between the engine and radiator, are preferably positioned forwardly of both the engine and radiator. This arrangement, like the other stationary shutter system, has the advantage of maximum ruggedness and reliability under extremely adverse conditions, rendering it highly desirable for use in military vehicles and the like. In addition, when the shutter is positioned forwardly of the radiator, it may in its closed condition very completely and positively shut off all flow of air to the radiator. Further, by positioning the fan and shutter at a side of the radiator opposite that at which the engine is located, the fan when acting as a centrifugal impeller is enabled to warm both the radiator and engine compartment with a single circulation of air, the air flowing rearwardly from the fan through both the radiator and engine compartment, and then reversing its direction to flow forwardly through the compartment and radiator and back to the fan.

The air directing bafile of the present systems may take the form of a tubular shroud disposed about the fan and converging between the outer portions of the radiator and shutter. Preferably, the shutter assembly extends across and completely closes off the forward end of this tubular shroud.

The above and other features and objects of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the typical embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a side View of an engine temperature control system embodying the invention, showing the path of air flow with the shutters in open condition;

Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 but showing the air flow pattern when the shutters are closed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2- and showing especially the shutter construction; and

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3 but showing a variational type of shutter.

With reference first to Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown at In a conventional water cooled internal combustion engine, in front of which is mounted the usual upstanding radiator II. Cooling water flows between the upper portions of the engine water jacket and radiator through a hose 1?, and between the lower portions of the radiator and jacket through line I3. The engine is contained within a compartment or housing enclosed at its top and sides by the usual hood l d, at its rear by a vertical wall l5, and across a portion of its underside by bottom wall I6.

Cooling air is forced through radiator H by a normally axially discharging fan ll positioned in front of and opposite the radiator. This fan is carried and driven by a shaft l 8, projecting forwardly from engine Ill and extending through a central opening I9 in the radiator. Shaft it is in turn driven by the engine crank shaft 28 through a belt 2|.

At its forward side, radiator I I carries a tubular shroud 22, which converges forwardly from its engagement at 23 with the outer portions of the radiator to a forward circular edge 24 of a diameter slightly larger than the fan. Within its forward end, the shroud carries a shutter assembly 25, comprising a pair of relatively rotatable circular sheet metal disks or sections 2%: and 21, by which the air flow is controlled. The forward one 26 of these shutter sections is stationarily mounted to the shroud, as by welding about the outer edge of the shutter section at 28. At its rear side, forward shutter section 26 carries a central hub 29 about which the rear shutter section 27 is rotatably mounted.

The two shutter sections are apertured in a manner permitting opening and closing of the shutter assembly by rotation of the rear section relative to the forward section. As seen in Fig. 3, each shutter section may contain a series of circularly spaced radially extending and enlarging apertures 30, between which are formed a series of circularly spaced shutter surfaces 3!. As will be appreciated, in the open condition of the shutter assembly, apertures 313 of the rear shutter section are in registry with the apertures of the forward section to permit the passage of air, whereas in the closed condition, the apertures of the two sections are moved out of registry. The rear shutter section is rotatable between these two conditions, in response to changes in engine water temperature, by a thermostat 32 connected into Water line 3. The thermostat actuates the shutter by any suitable type of operative connection diagrammatically represented at 33.

Fan ll of course operates continuously during operation of the engine, the circulation of air by the fan being controlled by opening and closing of the shutter assembly. Whenever the en- 1 gine water temperature rises to a predetermined value, as for instance 160 F., thermostat 32 opens the shutter assembly to permit fan H to create a rearward flow of air through the radiator, past the engine, and out at the underside of the engine compartment. This draft of air through the radiator cools the engine water, whose temperature ultimately falls to a second predetermined value, at which thermostat 32 closes the shutter assembly to prevent further cooling.

When the shutter assembly is closed, fan. I! commences to operate as a centrifugal impeller drawing warm air forwardly from about the engine and through the radiator and discharging it radially outwardly. The radially discharged warm air is directed rearwardly by shroud 22 to flow along the outer portions of the engine compartment to the rear end of the compartment, and then return forwardly along the central portion of the compartment to the. central suction portion of the fan. Air warmed, by the engine is thus continuously circulated through the radiator and throughout the entire underhood compartment, to prevent cooling or freezing of the radiator or any of the engine parts by cold external air. It is particularly noted that the centrifugally discharged warm air pressurizes the outer portions of the underhood compartment during the rearward flow of the air in a manner preventing the entrance of cold outside air into the compartment. Among other things, the warm air circulation prevents undesired cooling of the lower crankcase portion 3c of the engine, which cooling has in the past caused the development of sludge formations in the iuoricating oil. In addition, the engine air is prewarmed before being drawn into the carburetor, and the air having access to the crankcase through the crankcase breather is maintained in warm condition.

In order that fan I! may operate as an efficient centrifugal impeller, it is important that the shutter assembly be positioned in close proximity to the leading edges 35 of the fan blades 36. Preferably, this positioning should be as close as is practically possible. As seen in the drawing, this positioning in the illustrated preferred form of the invention is such that the axial distance between the shutter assembly and the fan blades is less than the axial extent of the blades.

Fig. 4 represents a variational type of shutter, in which the air passing apertures and intermediate shutter surfaces take a different form than in Fig. 3. Specifically, the apertures in Fig. 4 extend angularly rather than'dirctly 'ra'dially outwardly, and have a slight curvature.

I claim: i

l. Temperature control apparatus comprising a liquid containing radiator, a rotating fanfacing said radiator and having blades normally discharging air through the radiator, shutter means adjacent said fan operable between open and closed conditions while the ran is inoperation, said fan being rotatable relative to said shutter means while the shutter means'is and remains in one of said conditions, said shutter means in closed condition e ng disposediacrcss a face of the fan in close proximity to the blades thereof to convert the fan directly fad'jacent the blades thereof to a centrifugal impeller discharging fluid radially outwardly, baflie means positioned in the path of said radially outward new of fluid and deflecting a portion thereof toward the radiator, and thermostatic control means operable to actuate said shutte'r means between said condition in accordance with changes in the temperature of the radia'tor liquid. v I

2. Temperature control apparatus comprising a radiator, a rotating fan facing said radiator and having blades normally discharging air through the radiator, shutter means adjacent said fan operable between open and closed conditions while the fan is in operation, said fan being rotatable relative to said shutter "means while the shutter means is 'in and remains in one of said conditions said shutter means in closed condition being disposed across a face of the fan directly adjacent the blades thereof to convert the fan to a centrifugal impeller discharging fiuid radially outwardly, and baffie means positioned in the path of said radially outward flow of fluidand deflecting a portion thereof toward the radiator. p v

3. Temperature control apparatus comprising a radiator, a rotating fan facing said radiator and having blades normally discharging air through the radiator, shutter means at the suction side of said fan operable between open and closed conditions while the fan is in operation, said shutter means in closed condition being 1;-

posed across said suction side of the fan directly adjacent the blades thereof to convert the fan to a centrifugal impeller discharging fluid radially outwardly, bafiie means positioned in the path of said radially outward flow of fluid and deflecting a portion thereof toward the radiator, said shutter means including a pair of relatively adjustable sections, and means mounting one of said sections substantially stationarily with respect to said baffle means.

4. Temperature control apparatus comprising a liquid containing radiator, a rotating fan facing said radiator and having blades normally discharging air through the radiator, shutter means at the suction side of said fan operable between open and closed conditions while the fan is in operation, said shutter means in closed condition being disposed across said suction side of the fan directly adjacent the blades thereof to convert the fan to a centrifugal impeller discharging fluid radially outwardly, baffle means positioned in the path of said radially outward flow of fluid and deflecting a portion thereof toward the radiator, said shutter means including a pair of relatively adjustable sections, means mounting one of said sections substantially stationarily with respect to said bafile means, and thermostatic control means operable to actuate said shutter means between said conditions in accordance with changes in the temperature of the radiator liquid.

5. Temperature control apparatus comprising a radiator, a rotating fan facing said radiator and having blades normally discharging air through the radiator, shutter means adjacent said fan operable between open and closed conditions while the fan is in operation, said fan being rotatable relative to said shutter means while the shutter means is in and remains in one of said conditions, said shutter means in closed condition being disposed across a face of the fan directly adjacent the blades thereof to convert the fan to a centrifugal impeller discharging fluid radially outwardly, and a tubular shroud extending between outer portions of the radiator and said shutter means for deflecting said radially outward flow of air toward the radiator.

6. Temperature control apparatus comprising a radiator, a rotating fan facing said radiator and having blades normally discharging air through the radiator, shutter means at the suction side of said fan operable between open and closed conditions while the fan is in operation, said shutter means in closed condition being disposed across said suction side of the fan in close proximity to the blades thereof to convert the fan to a centrifugal impeller discharging fluid radially outwardly, a tubular shroud converging between outer portions of the radiator and said shutter means for deflecting saidradially outward flow of air toward the radiator, said shutter means in closed condition forming a substantially complete closure across said shroud, said shutter means including a pair of relatively adjustable sections, and means mounting one of said sections substantially stationarily with respect to said baliie means.

7. Temperature control apparatus comprising a radiator, a rotating fan facing said radiator and having blades normally discharging air through the radiator, shutter means adjacent said fan operable between open and closed conditions while the fan is in operation, said shutter means being essentially circular and of a diameter approximately equal to the fan, said fan being rotatable relative to said shutter means while the shutter means is in and remains in one of said conditions, said shutter means in closed condition being disposed across a face of the fan in close proximity to the blades thereof to convert the fan to a centrifugal impeller discharging fluid radially outwardly, and baflle means posid tioned in the path of said radially outward flow of fluid and deflecting a portion thereof toward the radiator.

8. Apparatus comprising an internal combustion engine, a radiator for cooling liquid from said engine and positioned at a forward side thereof, a normally axial flow fan positioned forwardly of and axially facing the radiator and having angular blades normally discharging cooling air rearwardly through the radiator and over the engine, shutter means extending across the forward side of said fan and operable between open and closed conditions, said shutter means in closed condition being positioned in close proximity to the fan blades to convert the fan to a centrifugal impeller drawing warm air forwardly from over the engine and through the radiator and discharging it radially outwardly, a tubular shroud extending forwardly between the outer portions of the radiator and shutter means to deflect said radially outward flow of air rearwardly through the radiator and into the space about the engine, housing means about the engine confining said rearward flow of warm air, said shutter means comprising a pair of relatively adjustable sections having registerable apertures, and means mounting one of said sections substantially stationarily with respect to said shroud.

9. Apparatus comprising an internal combustion engine, a radiator for cooling liquid from said engine and positioned at a forward side thereof, a normally axial flow fan positioned forwardly of and axially facing the radiator and having angular blades normally discharging cooling air rearwardly through the radiator and over the engine, shutter means extending across the forward side of said fan and operable between open and closed conditions, said shutter means in closed condition being positioned in close proximity to the fan blades to convert the fan to a centrifugal impeller drawing warm air forwardly from over the engine and through the radiator and discharging it radially outwardly, a tubular shroud extending and converging forwardly between the outer portions of the radiator and shutter means to deflect said radially outward flow of air rearwardly through the radiator and into the space about the engine, housing means about the engine confining said rearward flow of warm air, said shutter means comprising a pair of sheet metal disks having registerable fluid passing apertures and relatively rotatable between open and closed conditions, means mounting one of said disks stationarily to the forward end of said shroud, means rotatably mounting the second disk to said one disk, said disks forming a substantially complete closure across the forward end of said shroud in closed condition, and thermostatic control means for actuating said shutter disks between open and closed conditions in accordance with changes in temperature of the engine and radiator liquid.

10. Temperature control apparatus comprising a radiator, a rotating fan facing said radiator and having blades normally discharging air through the radiator, shutter means adjacent said fan operable between open and closed positions while the fan is in operation, said fan being rotatable relative to said shutter means while the shutter means is in and remains in one of said positions, said shutter means in closed position being disposed across a face of the fan in close proximity to the blades thereof to convert the fan to a centrifugal impeller discharging gate-eta fluid raiii ally utwaraiy, "the akial ifistahc -To'- tween said. 'shiit't'ei iheahs 'Whh iii baid el'orse'd position and said fan blades being l'ss the/h the axial-extent of said blades, *a'hii bafflerrieaifs positioned in the path of *said fla dia'l-ly outward new of 'fil id and de'fie'c'tin'g a 'pbrtion thei'eef tbwaid the radiator. v

11. Apparatus comprising an ihtei'fialbdmbiis tion engine, a i a'diatbi' for e'e'oliiig liquid iib'm said engine and pes'ition'ed at a reward "siii'e therebf, 'a normally a'ziial flow tan pb'sitioned fofwardl y bf and aXiaily facing the ifldiatf-hd having angular biades-hbri'nally dis'eha'rg ing 0001'- iiig'air rearwardi'y throiig'h tfie fad-iator and-Over the eiigine', shiitter ii e'a'ns e'xteh'tiiflg ac'idss the forward side bf sam -imam bper'able between ope and cl' sed con ditibns, saia Shutter means in closed cond-i'tidii being 'bb'sitidiieii iii elo'se -firb'x iiiiity to the fan blades to "iinif' t the-fan t6 a centrifugal imp u'erdraw'mg wa f'rh' ai -r fiwardl y from 'over the engine and throiigh the ia'iiiatd'r and discharging it fad-i'al'ly 'iitwafifly, and *a tubular shibud "eitending forwardly between the 8 oiiteiifibiti'efis bf the radiator and shutter means to deflect said radially dutward flow of air rearwardly through the radiator and into the space about the engine, said fa'n b'ei ng rotatable relative tb Said shutter means while the shutter means are in -and *remain in one of said conditibi fs.

ELMORE J. SANDERS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Numpjer Name Date a 957,176 11g May '10, 1910 1,301,784 'Calkiris 'Apr. 22, 1919 2,165,795 Holtnstfdm uIy 11, 1939 227x 0 Fe 10, 1 2,518,233 KeIIe'r May 4, 1943 2,347,153 Hagen A151. '18, E44 235L203 Hansen June '13, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Nur'r'lber Country Date 875,591 France an June29, 1942 

